Why Adil Rashid can be the answer to England's spin problems in Test cricket
The composition of England’s team for the first Ashes Test against Australia in July is yet to be decided and it could be that uncertainty that allows leg-spinner Adil Rashid to grab a spot in one of cricket’s most competitive series.
Rashid is currently part of an England ODI side which has banished the memories of a miserable World Cup and started playing with an attacking intent to provide a vibrant, feel-good factor in a format where England have struggled to find a successful formula.
One can only wonder how the game on Friday would have turned out had the rain not made an appearance at the worst possible time when Rashid, alongside his Yorkshire teammate Liam Plunkett, had started to inject some momentum into an innings that seemed headed for defeat. Once the players returned and the consequences of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method had given them an unenviable task (34 off 13 balls), it halted them and with the assistance of some excellent New Zealand fielding, defeat was confirmed and the series levelled at 1-1.
England’s bowling, including Rashid’s, left a lot to be desired yet with the bat, they nearly chased down a target that seemed insurmountable.
However, the 27-year-old Rashid’s performance in the first game on Wednesday that saw him hit 69 off 50 balls including seven boundaries and two sixes and taking four wickets as New Zealand were bowled out for 198, showed why the Yorkshireman could be the fresh, dynamic spinning option England have missed since off-spinner Graeme Swann retired midway through the disastrous Ashes series in 2013/14.
A prolonged spell in county cricket has paid dividends with Rashid being a vital cog in Yorkshire’s success last season.
He is eight wickets shy of taking 400 first-class wickets and his batting average is a healthy 35.78 with the highest score of 180, against Somerset in May 2013.
England were left spoiled by Swann’s magical wicket-taking ability with the added bonus of a very modest economy rate. Rashid brings the same ability of prising out wickets, especially against the lower order which England struggled to do during the recent 1-1 series draw against West Indies in the Caribbean. The criticism seems to be regarding Rashid’s lack of control and tendency to leak runs, but surely taking wickets is of paramount importance?
However, it would be a shame if England’s Test team, led by Alastair Cook, don’t walk out at Cardiff’s Swalec Stadium without Rashid, who would pose a different problem to the formidable Australian batting line up than Moeen Ali, who – despite providing a wonderful example of perseverance against India last summer – has struggled of late.
Moeen’s inclusion in the Test team depends on how he performs with the red ball up until the Ashes, but the challenge for him will be to produce when such a viable contender for his place is ready and waiting.
England made an error in not fielding Rashid in the Caribbean but they could still make amends by rewarding Rashid’s good ODI and county form with a place in the first Ashes Test. 